“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

For which free offline genealogy tool are you most grateful? How did you find this tool and how has it benefitted your genealogy? Describe to others how to access this tool and spread the genealogy love.

This is a toughy, because I’m such an internet researcher! But, here goes…

(I know these are supposed to be “offline” tools, but I’m including links for driving directions and hours of operation, for your convenience… :) )

Absolutely the downtown Fort Worth Public Library! They have the most awesome local and Texas genealogy collection, as well as a big bunch of nation-wide data. Also the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper on microfilm, issues go way back (not exactly sure). And don’t forget Ancestry.com and GenealogyBank.com, free to use at the library. Easy to get to and there is a packing garage across the street with 2.5 hr free parking with validation. And don’t forget free parking on the weekends. About 12 miles from my house.

And in my “adopted” county, Hill County, just to the south of Fort Worth, the Hillsboro public library has an outstanding genealogy collection of its own, encompassing Hill County and many other Texas counties. For a very small rural library, they have a very large collection! Also microfilmed Hill County newspapers going back to the 1880’s, a wonderful resource for someone (like me!) with a lot of ancestors from Hill County. About an hour’s drive from me, but beautiful country between here and there, especially when the Texas Wildflowers begin to bloom! And free parking always…

The National Archives at Fort Worth is also just down the road, about 15 miles away… and I have NEVER BEEN THERE! Microfilm research is even closer, housed in the old Montgomery Wards complex just west of downtown Fort Worth. I’m sure I will be extremely grateful for it when I do get there!

There’s one more place that you might not think about, but occasionally I score a really good find there: HalfPrice Books. They have a lot of books that are out of publications…

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52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.